The Silent Express

When most of us think of Dussehra or Bijaya Dashami, what immediately comes to mind is the burning of Ravan’s effigies or the final immersion of Goddess Durga after her victory over Mahishasura. Yet, tucked beneath these widely celebrated images is a far less-known facet: in some regions, especially in Bengal and parts of Odisha, Bijaya Dashami also marks the beginning of a ritual called “Bijoya”, a practice of reconciliation. Historically, after the immersion of Durga, people would visit relatives, neighbors, even estranged acquaintances, to exchange sweets and embrace one another with the words “Shubho Bijoya” (Auspicious Bijoya). The underlying belief was that just as the Goddess departs to her celestial abode, humans too should dissolve their grudges, letting go of bitterness before life resumes its usual rhythm. Interestingly, this echoes a much older mythological strand. In the Ramayana, after the war in Lanka, Rama performs a rare ritual called “Shami Puja”, praying under the Sh...

When we speak of India’s fight for independence, our minds often turn to 1857 — the so-called First War of Independence.  But history holds a deeper truth. More than seventy years before sepoys took up arms against the British, a tribal leader from present-day Jharkhand had already set the forest ablaze with the fire of rebellion. His name was Tilka Majhi (referred to as Tilka Manjhi in certain sources). The Making of a Rebel Born in 1750 in Sultanganj, Tilka Majhi belonged to the Santhal tribe — a community deeply connected to its land and forests. When the East India Company tightened its grip on resources, imposing unfair taxes and snatching forest rights, Majhi saw not just economic injustice but an assault on his people’s dignity and survival. The 1784 Revolt – A Forgotten First Tilka Majhi organized a guerrilla resistance, uniting Adivasi warriors under one banner to challenge the might of the British. In 1784, when the Company’s exploitation peaked during a devastating famin...

  Picture this: A bustling metro, the undisputed tech capital of India, on the verge of becoming its own worst enemy—not because of failing infrastructure or economic downturn, but because of a battle over language. Sounds exaggerated? History begs to differ. Every time language extremism takes center stage, economies tremble, businesses flee, and growth takes a nosedive. 💥 Sri Lanka’s $200 Billion Mistake In 1956, Sri Lanka pushed Sinhala as its sole official language, alienating its Tamil-speaking population. The result? Decades of resentment that spiraled into a civil war , obliterating industries and costing the nation a staggering $200 billion in economic losses. 💥 Belgium’s Linguistic Tug-of-War The Flemish vs. Walloon divide has been an economic nightmare. In 2010-2011, Belgium went 541 days without a formal government —a record-breaking political deadlock that stalled economic policies, dented investor confidence, and put the nation in an administrative coma. 💥 Be...

  Episode 18: The One Who Remembers When she opened her eyes, the city was quiet. No sirens. No shadows. No versions. Just Keira . The real one. Whole. She stepped into the alley again, where it all began. The neon lights still buzzed, indifferent. In her hand, a new device pulsed with warm, steady light. Not a weapon. A key. To everything that had been kept from her. And everyone else. She smiled for the first time in years. “Let’s make the city remember what it tried to forget.” Go to Episode 17

  Episode 17: The Last Version Keira and her double stood in silence, the Archive pulsing with raw power. “I remember now,” Version 28 said. “Everything. Including how they tricked you into thinking you were the last.” Keira narrowed her eyes. “And you’re not here to help me, are you?” 28 smiled—sad, tired. “I’m here to end the cycle. But not by deletion.” She extended her hand. “Merge with me. No more fragments. No more versions. Just… us.” The system buzzed violently. It wasn’t designed for this. Keira looked at the stranger—he nodded, barely conscious. She reached forward. The final merge began. Pain. Light. Silence. Read Episode 18 here Go to Episode 16

  Episode 16: The Reversal Clause Within the stream of data, a buried command blinked: Reversal Clause – Emergency Rebirth Inversion It would destroy the activation sequence of all future versions. And, maybe, destroy her in the process. “You can’t,” the stranger wheezed. “You’ll wipe yourself.” She placed her hand on the final slot. “I’d rather end this on my terms… than become a ghost again.” Just as she pressed down— — another hand grabbed hers. A mirror. No—a person . Identical. Version 28. “You’ve come far,” her double said. “But this ends with me.” Read Episode 17 here Go to Episode 15